Information of the Kemet Civilization

1. NHAC100: African
Studies and
Culture
INTRODUCTION
Justification for the course: The course is meant to bring a general understanding
and appreciation of African knowledge systems, and the basis of its origins and
evolution. In this regard, the course is meant to evoke students to view Africans as
actors and agents of their destiny.
It helps students to develop a critical mind that does not allow a random
undermining of African knowledge systems ahead of the Western knowledge and
values. To this end, it affords the students with the opportunity to develop an Afro
centric view of African knowledge and values.

2. The course further provides students with an opportunity to understand how foreign
intervention in Africa was responsible to colonial challenges. Some of the colonial
legacies are some responsible for post-colonial challenges that Africa is facing even
today. Hence, the call would be “addressing African problems, using African
solutions.”
Foundation of African knowledge and
culture
Foundation of African knowledge and culture can be traced back to the origins
of human species in Africa. It has to be acknowledged from the onset that
there has been a tendency to argue that African knowledge and culture
was/is unprogressive and backward. As such, Western knowledge systems
have been peddled as the “ideal” one.
Foundation of African knowledge and culture; evolving from Africa, not
a borrowed phenomenon
In about two and half million years ago, the earliest human species, who
were Africans, initiated technology and intellectual search for food security.
Originated with tool-making – a technological driver of development. The
tool industry later on spread to the Middle East, Europe and the rest part of

3. the world (Africa’s contribution to the knowledge of science and
technology).
Foundation of African knowledge and
culture: cont…
During one and half million years ago made main achievements such as fire
was initiated as a source of energy, language provided communication and
analysis of environment, religion provided speculation about life and death,
initiated the concept of immorality
In about one hundred and fifty thousand years ago, Africa provided the
diversification of tools and initiated construction of shelters out
stones.
D iversification of technology and achievement of food security was
further achieved in later years.
Kemet civilisation: Emergence of the first
complex civilisation on the planet in about 32

4. 000 BC – 332 BC
The Kemet civilisation (Africa’ black civilization) dated 32 000BC -332 BC
originated with a lot of, if not most of the issues of critical importance
applied in the modern day world. It made great impact in the fields of
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Applied Maths, Medicine,
Pharmacology, Surgery, Astronomy and Geometry and cultural contributions
in writing, Literature and Art. There no major issues such as those being
tackled by the current global political leadership addresses which Kemet did
not address and came up with answers.
Unfortunately, Kemet scientific and technological knowledge systems
have been swept under the carpet for the preference of European
thought.
Beginning of politics and economics: Kemet initiated the concept of
centralised authority and transformed the Nile valley from food gathering to
food production. Originated with the concert of irrigation – flood irrigation
Kemet civilisation: Emergence of the first
complex civilisation on the planet in about 32
000 BC – 332 BC: cont…

5. Origins of Mathematics, a scientific intellectual tool designed to manipulate
nature for self-preservation and survival. A few individuals are aware of the
fact the concept of mathematics started in Africa. Distances and angles
were used in dam and canal construction. Division and multiplication were
also commonly used.
The use of shadduf had a lot to do with pivoting, an important concept in the
physics subject.
Links between Kemet and the rest of Africa created a sense of common ideas,
fundamental rights and institutions laying a foundation of PanAfricanism.
Kemet civilization: cont…
Achievements in astronomy, medicine, architecture, agriculture and philosophy.
Maritime knowledge systems, science of navigation – originated from Kemet and
later spread acroos Africa, and even beyond. There was a misleading notion that
the knowledge of navigation started with Europeans, who were the first to sail
boats to America. History has dismissed this as Africans had sailed to America,and

6. even Asia before the Europeans.
Demonstrated skills of architecture and engineering: stonework structures and
dams were built by the Kemets, in which a lot of mathematical and physics
concepts had to be applied.
The application of such architectural and engineering knowledge systems is
evidence across the African continent. For instance there are magnificent stone
walls that are found and built in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Mali well before
colonization.
Kemet civilization: cont…
Medicine and surgery: Many forms of treatments employed in the
contemporary world used once used in Africa before the coming of
Europeans. For instance the practice of using plants with salicylic acid for
pain, as in asprin and kaolin for diarrhoea. Medical procedures such as
vaccination and surgery were performed in Kemet, and later spread across
Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Benin).
Learning systems was practiced in Africa, well before the coming of

7. the Europeans as well the metallurgy knowledge systems.
Kemet civilisaation had spread to the rest of the world, including Greece
which is known as the birth place of Western civilisation. Plato (428 – 348 BC)
studied in Kemet for 13 years. Pythagoras (570 BC – 490 BC) studied Philosophy,
Geometry and Medicine in Kemet for 22 years. Thales, the first Greek philosopher
studied in Kemet. Hippocrates studied Medicine in Kemet for 7 years.
Activity: Establish other initiatives that originated with the people of Kemet,
THANK NK

8. YOU THE END